The big Cardiff City squad number changes that look set to happen this season in the Premier League

Neil Etheridge will get the No.1 shirt, after wearing 25 last season, with Alex Smithies having the No.12 on his back against Bodmin.

By Tom Coleman ( Media Wales )

Friday 20th July 2018

These are the changes we could see when the official squad numbers are revealed on the eve of the Premier League season...

Sol Bamba 22 , Bobby Reid 14

Bamba was given the No.14 shirt when he signed for Cardiff after a famous free transfer back in October 2016 that typified Warnock's genius in the market.

And the totemic Ivorian has seemed content with that number for the past 18 months or so. Until now.

With Bobby Reid wearing the No.14 against Tavistock, fans wondered what would happen when both Reid and Bamba took the field together.

And Reid, who was No.14 for Bristol City, still had the shirt with Bamba switching to No.22.

The centre-back had the same number during his sole season at Palermo, so it looks like he's about to change his Cardiff number for the first time. Stuart O'Keefe has nominally held No.22 at Cardiff for the past few years, but appears to be heading for the exit.

Josh Murphy 11 , Kadeem Harris?

Kadeem Harris' fine 2016/17 form for Cardiff, when he really emerged as a first team regular, was rewarded with a change of number, from 24 to 11.

But we rarely saw the young winger on the pitch last season as injuries took their toll.

And Harris may be set for a change of number once again, with Murphy consistently wearing the No.11 shirt in pre-season and looking in fine form.

The former Norwich City winger had the No.11 shirt for the Canaries last season and understandably wants to feel one of the Bluebirds' main attacking players after his transfer. Where that leaves Harris in terms of a squad number remains to be seen.

Gary Madine 24 , Marko Grujic?

The target man was given the No.44 when he signed last season and you can't blame him for wanting a change of luck.

He has been wearing No.24 in pre-season and if you believe in superstition, then it's been boding well for Madine who has three goals in 90 minutes of tour football. It's the same number he had at both Sheffield Wednesday and Blackpool.

Madine's imminent change of number would mean, however, that if Marko Grujic signs on loan from Liverpool then the youngster must find a new number having worn 24 last term.

Greg Cunningham 18, Callum Paterson,13

A fairly straightforward swap with Warnock describing how Paterson wanted the No.13, clearing the way for new signing Cunningham to take the Scot's old number, 18.

Warnock said: "What to say about Paterson, he's not a full shilling, is he? He came to me and I said 'what number do you want?' He said, 'I want number 13, boss.' Who would have number 13? Only Paterson."

Anthony Pilkington has long held the No.13 shirt, so Paterson's switch looks like spelling the end for the Irish international.

Goalkeepers

Judging from the shirts they have worn in pre-season, Cardiff's goalkeepers are also going to change the numbers they wear.

Neil Etheridge will get the No.1 shirt, after wearing 25 last season, with Alex Smithies having the No.12 on his back against Bodmin.

This would mean Lee Camp is stripped of the No.1 jersey, with the man who spent the second half of last season on loan at Sunderland expected to depart in the next few weeks.

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